Tynemouth, The Bar, Eagle

In December 1870 the north-east coast was hit by severe weather. On 8th December there was a gale from the south-east which brought heavy rain and created huge waves. The steamer Eagle got stranded on The Bar on 9th December. She had developed a leak whilst off Whitby. By the time she reached the Tyne her stoke hold was flooded and the fires extinguished. A huge wave nearly sank her. Luckily the Eagle came onto the Herd Sand and the 17 crew were rescued by the lifeboat Tyne.